Studies on Carrageenans from the Economic Red Algal Genus Eucheuma in Tanzania

Abstract
Carrageenan yields of 5 Tanzanian species of Eucheuma were determined. The mean yields obtained were 72.8%, 69.0%, 65.0%, 58.0% and 54.0% for E. spinosum J. Agardh, E. striatum Schmitz, E. platycladum Schmitz, E. okamurai Yamada and E. speciosum J. Agardh f. mauritianum Boergesen, respectively. IR spectroscopy studies were conducted. E. striatum and E. okamurai showed absorption peaks characteristic of .kappa.-carrageenan; E. spinosum showed peaks characteristic of .tau.-carrageenan. E. speciosum f. mauritianum and E. platycladum showed peaks more closely resembling those of .tau.- than .kappa.-carrageenan.